The Telescope Library has become much more active this year, meeting growing demand with an expanding group of volunteers. The number of loans is already over twice that of last years' peak, and demand continues to grow. At this writing, we have 36 reservations, some of which stretch into October.

Interest in Astronomy is also rising, due to the Eclipse on August 21, and we have seen the effects of this in some reservations and questions. More about this next month.

In September, with construction at OMSI, our goal is to loan out all of the collection normally stored there. Most loans starting in August will be for two months, with loans ending in October, keeping our equipment out of the way of construction crews.

Reservations have been a key to growth. By putting our collection on the website, many members were made aware of the availability of telescopes in the library for the first time, and reservations have shown the level of interest. For example, we have 4 Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescopes over 10 inches, one of which was loaned out last year for 1 month. This year, 3 of the 4 are on loan now, or reserved for several months.

Finally, Our call for volunteers has been another success; several talented people who are able to support the growing activity have stepped forward, but we can always use more help, at any level. Our goal is to serve you better, with courteous service and higher standards. If you would like to help build our team, please contact the Telescope Librarian.

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An unseasonably late snowstorm was pummeling Geneva International Airport when I arrived in early April. I pulled my suitcase through snow, dusted off my knowledge of French from high school, and rode tram #18 to its endpoint, a stop simply labeled “CERN.”

I had traveled over 8,000 kilometers to one of the world’s foremost physics research facilities. The European Council for Nuclear Research—the French translation, Conseil Européen pour la Recherche Nucléaire, is the origin of its acronym—was founded in 1954. Perhaps most well known for the 2012 discovery of the Higgs boson, the sprawling campus spanning two countries is justifiably famous.

Special thanks to Alison and her volunteers Roger and Merle for painting the parking curbs at Stub Stewart State Park. They present a tripping hazard that we have to warn everyone about every time we go out there, but with the new paint job, they should show up better even in the dark to help make things safer. Alison, I'm amazed at how quickly you got this done. First she was looking for volunteers, then it was done. Just like that. Love it, love you, love the bright white curbs!

At our April meeting, RCA charter member Jim Todd received the highest honor that our club bestows: the Galileo Award. Jim has been the Director of Space Science Education at OMSI for the past 35 years and was a key figure when our club was founded in the merger of two smaller clubs over 30 years ago. He provides our facilities at the museum, paying for us to use spaces at the museum from his own budget, which sometimes means venues such as the Empirical Theater when we need extra seating for special events. Aside from meeting rooms, such as the auditorium we’re currently in tonight, this includes storage space for our telescope and book libraries, our sales inventory, and other supplies. He cares so much about the club that he’s willing to risk tripping over all of that stuff while he’s working at his day job in the Planetarium. He even provides a mailbox for our official mail.

As if that wasn’t enough, Jim has also provided us with special programs, such as movies, planetarium shows, and special speakers, which has occasionally meant astronauts. As you will see a bit later tonight, he has always been ready and willing to fill in with a high-quality sky report whenever we have needed. He advocates and mediates for us with OMSI, championing our cause as the OMSI administration has changed over the years. He has advocated for us with city officials, such as the fire marshal, sometimes absorbing additional costs that we would otherwise have to pay. Jim has also gone out of his way to make our holiday events special, providing decorations, music, and presentations highlighting events important to the club or to the wider world. He is always flexible and works with us to meet special requests or when we need to adjust to unusual circumstances. Altogether, Jim has probably supported the club more than any other individual in ways both large and small and continues to be a very valuable and deeply appreciated member of the RCA family.

Jim’s generosity allows us to use our resources to reach more people and to provide more services to our members than would ever be possible otherwise. In return, we do our best to provide volunteers to help with official OMSI events, such as the OMSI star parties, Astronomy Day, the Makers’ Fairs, and significant events, like the Venus transit. But having the opportunity to participate in these events is yet another benefit for our members. Providing a kid’s first view of Saturn, Jupiter, or a globular cluster is a magical experience and sharing our passion for and knowledge of astronomy with other people is a lot of fun. If you haven’t volunteered yet, we strongly encourage it.

We owe a great deal to Jim and we would be a very different club without him!

We are pleased to announce the addition of Angele Mott Nickerson and Kelsey Yocum (nominee) to the RCA board in our At-Large Director positions. Angele recently moved back to Oregon after living in Vermont where she was very active with the Vermont Astronomical Society, particularly with outreach, public speaking, and membership activities. She is a librarian who also spends time helping out with her family's business, volunteering at her son's school, and being outdoors as much as possible. We welcome Kelsey to the board after her excellent work with the Outreach Team. She is a product designer with 14 years experience as a volunteer and seasonal staff member at the Oregon Observatory at Sunriver. We look forward to both of their contributions and leadership!

The RCA general meeting of May 20th will be our annual Astronomy Day Fair and Swap Meet, in the OMSI auditorium where we usually met. Sellers who want a space at a table in the Swap Meet area (the center of the auditorium), please let me know before April 25 at president@rosecityastronomers.org. Let me know if you need a full table, or can use a half table to share with another seller. Also, please include your contact information.

Set up will begin at 5:30 p.m., no exceptions. Remember that the load/unload area in front of OMSI allows only 15-minute parking. After that you are blocking a city fire lane and could get a ticket. Also, parking will be tight that night because there will be another event going on at OMSI that same night. Finally, there is no electrical service to the Swap Meet area and OMSI will not permit stretching a cord across the room, even taped down. Especially taped down

RCA will have several tables around the perimeter of the Auditorium and the Swap Meet tables and chairs will be set up in the middle. Right now there are twelve tables for a total of 24 spaces. If we need more, we can rearrange the tables to get more spaces. There will also be at least two tables out in the lobby area reserved for our vendors. Sunriver will, as usual, be in the lobby outside the main door to the Auditorium.

RCA will also have its own tables along the back wall for Sales, Membership and Book Library, as usual. We will NOT have New Member Orientation that night. RCA will have workshops in Classroom One and shows in the planetarium, but we will have no workshops or presentations in the Auditorium, for noise reasons. However, there will be a Kids with Scopes area between the Swap Meet area and the Main Stage.

If you contact me by April 25, I will assign you a space and put your name on it. If you contact me after April 25, you will have to use one of the "extra" tables I plan to have on hand, if I can find room for them.

RCA launches campaign to identify Oregon’s first International Dark Sky Place

Last month RCA initiated its campaign to help designate Oregon’s first International Dark Sky Place (IDSP). Such places are certified under a program developed by the International Dark Sky Association (IDA), the only organization solely dedicated to protecting night skies for present and future generations. About a dozen RCA members volunteered to support this effort. This is a big effort and one that will require sustained support from many other people across the state. Getting the word out that “dark skies matter” and fending off the trend of brighter and more pervasive outdoor lighting is no easy feat. Drum roll….statewide citizen support may be just around the corner!

Oregon chapter of the International Dark-Sky Association is forming

IDA is working with active IDA members in several states to help them form statewide IDA “chapters.” Oregon is one of those states. Bend, OR has a few active IDA members who are carrying the gauntlet on this new IDA chapter formation. With the establishment of an Oregon Chapter, IDA members in Oregon can coordinate and pool their efforts, and tax-free donations will come directly to IDA Oregon to support projects in Oregon. A “boot-strap committee” of Oregon IDA members is working with IDA staff to make chapter formation a reality. Two RCA members, Dawn Nilson and Mike McKeag, are on that committee. If you are an IDA member/donor, you will soon be receiving a letter of invitation to participate in this new chapter. If you aren’t an IDA member, join now during International Dark Sky Week which runs from March 31 – April 7. If you can’t contribute time, you can contribute tax-free dollars to support the work of the Oregon Chapter. Collaboration is mounting and you can be part of it.

Early encounters with astronomy inspire a lifetime of interest. The Young Astronomer Awards Program promotes high school-age student participation in astronomy-related projects by offering financial awards, for approved and completed projects, ranging from $100 to $250 for projects of varying scope and significance.

Application Deadline is April 1, 2019

High school students in the Portland, Oregon metro area are encouraged to apply to either the Spring or Fall cycle of the awards program by submitting a project proposal via RCA’s online application. Once the proposal is approved by RCA, students have approximately 60 days to complete and submit their final project to RCA for judging. Students consider their talents and interests in astronomy and submit a proposal in one of the following categories:

Astronomy Research

Astronomy Journalism

Astronomy Arts & Literature

Astronomy Outreach & Advocacy

Club members can help promote this fun and worthwhile program by sharing with family, friends, school teachers and others. A full description of the Young Astronomer Awards Program, including guidelines, deadlines, and application can be found here.

Please join our team of Astronomy Dark-Sky Enthusiasts to help RCA build a coalition to designate Oregon's first ever International Darksky Place. Designating an International Darksky Place in Oregon will not only provide necessary leverage to bring more attention to darksky preservation, but will generate economic growth through astrotourism.

Our team will be identifying potential communities and locations that meet our darksky site objectives, and inviting communities and land agencies to consider designation. And there will be much more to this fascinating campaign in what is usually, on average, a three-year effort.

We are aiming to have folks from Portland Audubon Society, Oregon Wilderness Society, and other astronomy clubs and darksky advocates in Oregon as part of our team. We hope to have Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD), Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) as allies, and ideally coalition partners.

I recently received a request for help from a Portlander asking for what to do, what to bring, and where to go for a first-ever experience of a dark sky — in Central Idaho! She had heard about Central Idaho being designated an International Darksky Reserve and thought it would be a great idea for a vacation. Little did she know what great dark skies we have here in Oregon, and that they too are at risk from light pollution. Though Idaho is a great place, with your help we can put Oregon on the map as a dark sky vacation destination!

Wildfires have been increasingly figuring into our planning for our summer observing. If you plan to get outdoors to observe under our great Pacific Northwest skies this season, please read these preparedness suggestions:

We need to stop thinking of wildfires as abnormal and start planning our summer observing as if we could very well encounter wildfires, or have skies filled with smoke, or have to cancel events for fires.

We have to watch the fire forecast as carefully as we watch the weather forecast. I’ve asked Matt Vartanian, our new VP of Observing, to include fire watch in his forecasts for star parties, even early in the season, just to get in the habit of it.

We have to create safety practices at star parties in preparation for the event of a fire. At Camp Hancock, we park our vehicles facing the exit so we can get out quickly in case of fire. RCA should make this a requirement also. It has the added benefit of turning each car’s headlights away from the observing field.

At Oregon Star Party, we are required to carry five gallons of water dedicated to fire-fighting, and a shovel. We’ve been asked by Eugene Walters, who owns the property at our Maupin site, to require every attendee to have a five-gallon empty plastic buck filled with old blue jeans and enough water to keep them damp, with a lid so they don’t spill in the backs of our cars. In the event of fire, we would put the damp clothes on the grass around our observing site to dampen down the spread of fire, and leave. Eugene said the old-fashioned technique was to use wet gunny sacks. But no one knows what gunny sacks are anymore. I have already assured Eugene we can do this. It’s a small ask to protect his property and to protect ourselves.

We probably will have to develop ways to keep an eye on the wildfire situation on any weekend we’re observing in Oregon Outback. This means that those who have internet connections on site may have to have a fire watch program running in the background.

We must practice fire safety in the drylands where we camp. This means no smoking and no campfires where fire danger is high. This is not one of those “oh well, everyone’s getting too fussy” requirements. If we’re asked not to smoke outdoors, we don’t.

There may come a day when we really do need to leave a place quickly to get to safety. It may even mean having to leave all our beautiful, dearly beloved and expensive equipment behind. But the fires have become more numerous, bigger and faster than they have ever been in the past, and until we as a society invest the time and effort to restore our forest and grassland environments, fires will probably continue on this growth curve.

I sincerely hope that if we are careful and proactive, we can continue to have many more years of wonderful observing. But given that wildfire season has stretched into early spring and late fall, we may have to start expanding our thinking to include our hobby as a winter-time sport. So those clear cold nights in February up at Stub Stewart State Park are looking better all the time. So are nights in our backyards, or online telescope services. We will find a way.